After nearly a decade of exclusivity deals, Call of Duty’s partnership with PlayStation has officially ended. This marks the end of an era that began with Microsoft’s initial timed exclusivity deal for the Xbox 360, allowing its players early access to new Call of Duty multiplayer maps. The last of these deals was for Advanced Warfare in 2014. Starting in 2015 with Black Ops 3, PlayStation took the reins, extending the exclusivity period to entire game modes, with Xbox users waiting as long as a year for access to specific features.
The recent Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard has ended PlayStation’s exclusive hold on Call of Duty content, ensuring that Modern Warfare 3 and future titles will no longer have PlayStation-exclusive content restrictions. Microsoft has committed to releasing the same content across all platforms, putting an end to years of divided access. Xbox fans, however, have a significant perk—Call of Duty titles will be included in the Xbox Game Pass, making the game accessible to subscribers without additional costs.
This shift is welcome news for Call of Duty fans on all platforms, enabling a more unified community. Microsoft has also signed an agreement with Nintendo, pledging to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms. While no titles have been announced for the current Switch, speculation suggests future releases may come to the anticipated Switch 2, ensuring all platforms will receive equal access without exclusive content restrictions.
As Call of Duty moves forward, players across Xbox, PlayStation, and potentially Nintendo can look forward to a fairer experience—where content will be available to all, regardless of platform choice. This transparency may strengthen the franchise’s appeal and foster a more cohesive fan base across the gaming community.
